Even if no self-service scooter will be rolling in Montreal and Longueuil this summer, the two cities plan to deploy them on their territory from 2023, despite the resounding failure of a first attempt in the Quebec metropolis in 2019.
The administration of Valérie Plante is evaluating “the possible scenarios for 2023”, confirms by email to Homework Hugo Bourgoin, communications officer at the City. He adds that over the past few months, Montreal “has had discussions with various operators of electric scooters”, and that a “decision on the model chosen will be made and announced in the coming months”.
In 2019, Lime deployed 200 scooters in Montreal. Calling the project a failure, the administration put an end to it in the winter of 2020. One of the reasons given: only 20% of the scooters had been parked in areas reserved for this purpose. The police had issued 333 contradriver warningsincluding 324 for not wearing a helmet.
“Montreal does not want to turn into the scooter police,” said city councilor Éric Alan Caldwell, project manager. If we want a regulation that works, it is the responsibility of the operators to ensure that the deployment is done in a clear and orderly fashion. »
Discussions in Longueuil
And Montreal is not the only city to consider deploying scooter services on its territory. In recent months, Longueuil has also had discussions with companies established in Canada, including the Americans Bird and Lime as well as the Australian Neuron.
Like the metropolis, no service is planned this summer, notes Louis-Philip Prévost, special adviser to the new mayoress of Longueuil, Catherine Fournier. The deadlines were too short, he says: “You have to adopt a municipal by-law and then submit the request to the Ministry of Transport, which takes a bit of time. And we have to establish agreements with the companies in question. »
In a brief email sent to Homework, a representative of Neuron confirms his interest, without however detailing the content of the discussions: “We rely on the City of Montreal and the City of Longueuil for any future micromobility program on their territory. »
Established in five countries and present in four Canadian municipalities since last year, the Australian company has registered two representatives in the Quebec Lobbyists Registry to obtain authorization from the two cities to set up and operate its electric scooter service.
Lime and Bird have also taken similar steps. In the case of Bird, a major American company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, its representations to Montreal also concern the modification of the Regulation respecting unregistered self-service vehicles without anchoring.
behind the metropolis
In order not to repeat the Montreal experience of 2019, several elements must be considered. “Do there have to be anchors? How much will all this cost the City, because it will not be at zero cost? Should wearing a helmet be mandatory? said M. Prévost.
If Longueuil goes ahead, it will be conditional on Montreal’s decision, he adds. “Montreal is right next door. The Jacques-Cartier Bridge connects our two downtown areas. If we make a comparison with Bixi, 50% of our trips are towards Montreal. We can’t move forward if they don’t get on board. Services are integrated. »
Longueuil would favor a model based on competition, which differs from the Montreal project in 2019, where several operators would offer their services. In this sense, the approach would resemble that of Ottawa, which last year selected three companies – Bird, Lime, Neuron – to deploy 1,200 scooters on its territory. “It will not be an exclusive agreement with a single company,” assures Mr. Prévost.
Until scooters make their appearance, Longueuil will rely on the development of the Bixi network. “There is an appetite for it here. At home, unlike Montreal, there are no electric bikes yet, which is planned. »
The two cities will above all have to receive the approval of the Quebec Ministry of Transport, whose pilot project for self-service scooters ends in 2023. “We should see if this period should not be extended,” says Mr. Prevost.
The pilot project of the government establishes the age authorized to rent one of these vehicles as well as the public roads that it is possible to borrow. “There is still work to be done before all of this is authorized,” adds the special adviser to the mayor of Longueuil.